Dripless tray for ampule washing machines



F. J. COZZOLl Filed Dec. 5o, 1944 March 18, 1947.

DRIPLEss TRAYFOR AMPULE WASHING MACHINES FI G.l. f

Patented Mar. 18, 1947 ,rt

- UNIT Eo STATES PATENT OFFICE baleines TRAY Fon AMPULE WASHING MAornNEs nl Frank J Cozzoli, Plainfield, N. J. Application December 30, 1944, Serial No. 570,587

i 1 n i The present invention relates to machines for washing ampules and like tubular vessels and is concerned more particularly with improvements in the tray structures that form a part of the ampule supporting and Washing elements of such machines. Y

In my prior application Serial No. 475,625, iiled February 12, 1943, there is disclosed a washing machine of the general ycharacter to which this invention is applicable, and in which the ampule supporting trays are transversely mounted upon an endless conveyor structure and intermittently moved from a loading station, through a plurality of washing stations, to a discharge station and back to the loading station. In a machine veyor. Heretofore the individual trays have been formed with outwardly slanting side walls and in the course 'of the processing operations consderable splashing of processing fluid occurs,v so

much so that an objectionable amount falls through the spaces between the trays, upon the underlying operating mechanisms. As a consequence, intricate and delicate operating parts of the machine soon lose their coatings of lubricant, and corrosion of parts and improper operation results.

.6`Claims. (Cl. 134-124) The primary aim of this invention is to perfect a means forfconfining the processing fluids to the trays and discharge conduits provided `on f the machine, to the end that the mechanical operating parts thereof may retain their lms of lubricant and remain free of corrosion and rust.l

In carrying out the objectives of this invention it is proposed to construct each ampule tray with relatively steep sidewalls and a steep end wall at one end only. `A steep-sided open-ended tray is thus formed, which confinestheliquids and from which theprocessingfluids discharge into a parallel collecting trough as the trays move past theprocessing stations. 'In machines ofthe character referred tothe respective trays/extend transverselyof their line ofl movement, and as they travel around the pivotal axisof Vthe conveyor mechanisms, are caused to spread apart radially as they leave a straight run, andl to approach one another as they arrive at the beginning of a straight run.

Suflicient space must, therefore, be provided between successive trays to facilitate such relative movement between the trays, and it is through such spaces that the processing liquids fall upon the mechanisms below. In accordance with this invention it is proposed to provide one side wall o f each tray with one element of an interlitting joint, and the other side Wall of each tray with the complemental element of the joint. The joint elements are laterally separable and normally (during the straight part of the run) `interfit with one another and together effectively seal the spaces between trays against the passage of liquids therethrough.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that they may embody the same in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which- Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a dripless tray embodying this invention, with portions of Vconnecting conveyor links, and a processing fluid supply conduit.

Fig 2 is an end view of a series of such trays mounted upon a conveyor structure of a washing machine, approximately one-half of the length of the conveyor being illustrated, the other half being similar. 4

` Fig. -3'is a plan view of a portion of the mechanisms illustrated in Fig. 2.

"Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 ofthe drawings, the invention is illustrated in connection with portions of a machine adapted to wash ampules A and similar tubes and vessels that later are tobe filled with pharmaceutical preparations and supplies. The trays that support the ampules during the'processing operaftions and which form part of the washing .linksare :.provdedfwith rollers I4 thatare en-y gaged by the radial arms of sprocket-l wheels I5, but one being illustrated. The sprocket wheels I 5 are mounted in phase relation to a horizontally disposed shaft I 9 that is journaled in bearing blocks 26 secured to the main frame 2l, similar wheels and mounting being provided at the other end, as will be understood. The spacing of the shafts 19 and wheel sprockets I5 is such as to afford upper and lower straight runs a and b of tray movement, and two arcuate end runs c of tray movement.

Within the area bounded by the upper and lower runs of the conveyor and the side walls of the main frame 2l, is a substantial portion of the conveyor driving and other movable elements that make up the machine operating mechanisms. In the machine illustrated, such elements include the main drive shaft 24 which mounts an index cam 25, upper and lower conveyor tracks 26 and 2?, an index lever and pawl mechanism 28, the lever being pivoted at one end 28a, and conveyor index wheel 3i). Additional washing machine apparatus, such as loading mechanisms, valve control mechanisms l0- cated between the runs has not been illustrated, in the interest of clarity. And it is such mechanisnis as these which, together with their various pvoted joints, bearings and sliding surfaces, as well as the numerous rollers and pivotal joints i3 of the conveyor links and their supporting tracks 26 and 21, that must be kept well lubricated and free of corrosion if satisfactory machine operation is to be attained.

Attempts to protect the moving mechanisms by means of shields and drip pans and the like have not proved practical as certain parts cannot be shielded at all and other parts only ineiectively because of the lateral spattering of water falling from above.

It has been found that a primary source of the dripping water is from between the washing trays during their travel along the upper run a of the conveyor from one processing station to another. As represented in Figs. 2 and 3, there are in the instant machine a plurality of processing stations f-j. each equipped with a valve controlled supply line 3l that is brought intermittently into seating engagement with a valve seat 32 formed in the end of each of the trays It. The tray valve seat is at the end of a conduit 33 provided in the tray bottom, which conduit is in communication with each of a series of hollow ampule supports 34 carried by each tray Ill. rl'he washing machine operating cycle and a more complete description of the mechanisms thereof, is set forth in my aforesaid application, and the foregoing description of the parts is believed sufficient for the present purposes. Suffice it to explain that, in operation, each of the trays Ill is successively loaded at the loading station with vessels to be Washed, and thereafter indexed through the several washing stations. At one or more of the stations a liquid is forced through the hollow parts 34 to the interior of the vessels being processed, while they are in inverted position. The liquid discharging from the mouth end of the vessels falls into the trays IIl but some of it splashes out and falls between the trays. That portion which stays in the trays discharges from the open end thereof into a drain trough 35 and is led to a sump (not shown) through a pipe 35.

A preferred form of means for keeping the liquids out of the spaces between the trays, whereby the mechanisms below will be protected,

is illustrated more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. In this improved form, each tray I0 is formed with a rearwardly inclined bottom wall 5I, two substantially vertical side walls 52 and 53, and a relatively steep end wall 54, all united together as to form a slanted bottom, open-ended, trough. The medial section of each tray is thickened as at 55 and 56 to provide material around the common conduit 33 and the jet holes 51 into which the hollow tube supports 34 are threaded.

The vertical sides and steep end walls on each tray tend to resist upward flow of liquids during the processing operation, and also tend to retain any residual amount that remains therein, following the last processing station, until the tray has been indexed from an upstanding position (positions f, g, h, and z' in Fig. 2) to a point below the sprocket wheel axis I 9 at the discharging end of the run. Liquid that remains in a tray after the leading side wall 52 of the tray arrives at and passes through a position below horizontal, is thus caused to drip off at a point that clears the ampule discharge chute, a portion of which is indicated at 58.

Atop each tray and extending substantially the full length thereof, complementa] portions of a leakage resisting joint are provided. A joint of this kind for sealing the space 63 between the trays is illustrated herein in its simplest form and comprises a laterally extending ledge 60 along one side of each tray, that is adapted to intert with and closely to overlay the top 6I of the opposite wall of each next adjacent tray. The wall 6I of each tray is recessed as at 62 to receive the extending ledge of a preceding tray. Such a joint, it will be seen, permits of free separation of the trays as they leave the straight portions of the conveyor runs and pass around the curved end portions of the conveyor runs, and of free reunion in overlapping relation as they leave the curved portions of the run and pass again on to the straight portions. Although the spaces between the trays widen (as illustrated at the left side of Fig. 2) as they pass on and around the sprockets I5, the trays are then no longer in the processing stations, however as each tray continues its travel and again reaches the upper straightl run of the conveyor track 62, the space between it and the preceding tray closes and the top edge 6I of the tray passes under the flange 6U of the preceding tray whereby the opening 63 remaining between the trays becomes effectively closed.

Preferably the upper surface Sila of the joint so formed is given a longitudinally crowned or convex shape to prevent the retention thereon of droplets or pools of liquid and to cause such liquid as may splash thereon, to shed laterally into the channel portions of the trays. To further aid to the shedding of liquids, the laterally extending ledge of each tray is given an atten,- uated outer edge form as illustrated at b, and preferably a channeled underside, indicated at 55C, for the purpose of draining liquid away from such under surfaces and to cause it quickly to drip off the closure member into the open part of the adjacent tray. Similarly, the discharge end of each of the trays has a drain lip 5I depending therefrom and which extends across the underside of the open end that projects over the discharge trough. Liquids discharging from the tray is, by reason of the depending lip 5Ia, caused to drip off into the discharge trough 35, and not be carried around to the underside of the trays.

By constructing trays with steep sides and providing interntting male and female portions of a laterally separable joint on the respective side walls of each, an effective closure for the spaces between trays is automatically formed as the trays move from the curved portions of the conveyor run on to straight portions of the run, rendering the trays substantially dripless without, it will be seen, decreasing in anymaterial way, the effective capacity of the trays or requiring any alteration in the length or spacing of the mounting links of tray conveyors already in existence.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specic aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent `of the United States:

l. Washing apparatus comprising a series of tray members secured side-by-side to a conveyor structure and movable in a closed path through upstanding coplanar operative positions and inverted positions cyclically, each of said members having a bottom wall, two side walls and one end wall united together and forming an openended elongated trough for supporting articles to be washed and for confining liquids incident to a washing operation, and one of the side walls of each of .A said members having a laterally extending flange portion along its upper longitudinal edge adapted to extend over the top portion of the side Iwall of another adjacent member as such adjacent member reaches its operative position thereby eiectively to seal the space between the members against leakage of washing liquid therethrough and means underlying the open ends of the tray members when the tray members are in their respective upstanding operative positions for collecting liquids flowing from the open ends of the tray members during a washing operation.

2. Ampule washing apparatus comprising separate tray members secured to a conveyor structure and movable in a closed path through upper and lower straight runs and arcuate end runs, each ofsaid tray members having a bottom wall, two side walls and one end wall united together and forming an open-ended elongated trough for supporting ampules to be washed and for coniining liquids incident to a washing operation,

and one of the sidewalls of each of 'said members having ajoint portion of a laterally separable joint adapted to separably interiit with a compleinental joint portion on another adjacent one of .said members as such adjacent member arrives at a straight portion of the upper run of the conveyor thereby ei'ectively to seal the space between the tray members against leakage of washing liquid therethrough and means adjacent to the upper run of the conveyor and under-- lying the open ends or". the tray members for col lecting eiiiuent liquids from the open ends of the Y tray members during a washing operation.

3. A. tray for supporting ampules during a liquid processing operation, said tray being generally elongated member and having a bottom wall, two upstanding side walls and one upstanding end wall united together `forming an open ended trough for supporting ampules to be processed and for conducting liquids incident to a processing operation toward and out the open end thereof, and said tray having along the major portion of the upper edge of one of its said side walls a laterally extending portion adapted to over extend a side Wall of an adjacent tray whereby the space between the adjacent walls of adjacent trays becomes effectively sealed against leakage of processing fluids therebetween.

4. The tray structure set forth in claim 3` in which the bottom wall has a lip portion that extends across the open end of the trough and below the underside of said bottom wall to drain discharging fluid away from the underside of the botton wall.

5. A tray structure as in claim 3 in which the laterally extending portion along the upper edge of one of the side Walls of the tray has a convex upper surface so as to shed processing fluids to each side of a medial line.

6. A tray structure as in claim 3 in which the side wall of the trough opposite the wall having the laterally extending portion is lower` in height relative to said wall having a laterally extending side portion thereon to accommodate thereover the laterally extending portion of an adjacent tray.

FRANKJ. COZZOLI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references `are of record in the ille of this patenti' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,379,789 Cozzoli July 3, 1945 2,117,279 Anson May 17, 1938 637,716 Dodge Nov. 21, 1899 1,346,315 Hilker July 13, 1920 

